Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul suspended with immediate effect; BCCI to consult team management for their replacement

Angry BCCI in no mood to be soft on Pandya, Rahul for controversial comments on TV show; the two have been suspended pending inquiry, asked to return home immediately

It could just be the beginning of a temporary end for Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul. They two have been suspended with immediate effect for shooting their mouths off in the Karan Johar chat show recently. Their comments, deemed crass and misogynistic, have made their immediate future in the Indian team uncertain.

The quantum of punishment for the two – similar or not – will be known after the completion of an inquiry, which is likely to be conducted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) CEO. The probe will have to be complete within a week.

Immediately, however, the two will have to return home. It’s likely they will miss the remaining part of the Australia tour (three ODIs) and the subsequent white-ball tour of New Zealand. Both, or either, may even have to miss the World Cup although they are considered crucial to India’s ODI set-up.

“No one is bigger than the game and the institution,” Diana Edulji, refusing to pre-judge anything, told Mirror. Edulji, who’s member of the Committee of Administrators, added, “If they have to miss the World Cup, so be it (see next page).”

Replacements for the two have not yet been sought by the team management — understandably so, as the decision to suspend the two was made when it was very late in Australia. The BCCI will consult the team management on the matter today (Saturday).

With no clue about the expected time of action, the Indian team sidestepped their recent practice of announcing the XI or XII for the first ODI, slated to start this morning. Obviously, now the two will not be considered for the match. They were, however, seen practising with their teammates at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday as if it was business as usual.

The suspension letters to the players were issued by the CoA. The letter reads: “You are aware that enquiry and proceedings against you for misconduct and indiscipline have been initiated under Rule 41of the BCCI Constitution and the same are presently pending.

“In terms of Rule 41(6) of the BCCI Constitution, you are hereby suspended with immediate effect from participating in any manner whatsoever in any match or function or event or activity that is authorized, organized, sanctioned, recognized or supported in any way by the BCCI, the ICC or any State Association, until final adjudication of the matter.”

Committee of Administrators (CoA) chairman Vinod Rai ​on Friday said that Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul have been suspended, pending an inquiry into their comments passed on women during their appearance on a chat show.

Two days deliberation

The decision was made after almost two days of deliberation involving BCCI’s legal advisors who, ironically enough, suggested there is no provision for action for such a misconduct. They were eventually charged for participating in the show without prior permission.

The legal cell has advised that the two first be suspended, then an inquiry conducted, and then a report be submitted to the Ombudsman. Since the BCCI doesn’t have an Ombudsman at the moment, the CoA can appoint one on an ad hoc basis.

According to the board’s constitution, the CEO of the BCCI (Rahul Johri) will be needed to conduct the inquiry, but whether he will be allowed by the COA or a panel will be formed is not clear. There is still an element of confusion there.

One clear impression that is emerging fast is that KL Rahul’s culpability could be a way bit less than that of Pandya, who had talked big about mixing with women and even being candid about his so-called shenanigans with his parents. Rahul was seemingly restrained. It is apparent that the level of punishment will be different for the two.

“We’ve to decide if the levels of seriousness of the offence of KL Rahul and Pandya are the same. There may be a case that there will be different yardsticks for the two players,” Edulji, who was actually in the forefront of BCCI’s determination to take action against the players, said.

It was clear from the start that their replies to the show-cause notices were not satisfactory for the BCCI authorities, who were otherwise divided on the punishment for the two.

From the Indian cricket team point of view, any inappropriate comments that are made in that scenario are something that we definitely don't support. Definitely it has to hit hard, they will definitely understand the things that have not gone right

-Virat Kohli

We don't talk about all this even with our friends and they were talking on public television. Now people might think was Harbhajan Singh like this, was Anil Kumble like this and was Sachin Tendulkar

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